Handle construction and connection



Sept. 19, 1939. N. KATAJA HANDLE CONSTRUCTION AND CONN ECTION Filed March 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Nz'z'Zo Kara E NV NTOR m w wm a ATTORNEYS N. KATAJA HANDLE CONSTRUCTION AND CONNECTION Sept. 19, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 15, 1937 JYz'z'Zo Kala a INVENTOR v ATTORN EYS Patented Sept. 19, 1939 I 2,173,437

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDLE CONSTRUCTION AND CONNECTION Niilo Kataja, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application March 15, 1937, Serial No. 131,093

9 Claims. (Cl. 15-144) This invention relates to a handle construction back thereof is shaped to fittingly receive parts I and connection which may be employed advanof my handle construction.

tageously in conjunction with cleaning imple- Referring now more particularly to the drawments, such as brushes, and analogous impleings, it will be apparent, that there is shown a ments. cleaning implement in the form of a brush con 5 The principal object of the invention is the sisting of a rigid back I ii, and bristles II. The provision of a handle for an implement of the back ill in the present instance is preferably of indicated character, which may be readily adjustwood and is of oblong shape. The back Ii) at ed to different lengths and positions, so that it the top is recessed longitudinally thruout its 10 may be conveniently used under difierent circumlength. The handle construction and its connect- 10 stances while carrying out cleaning operations. ing means of the present invention are employed A further object of the invention is the proviin conjunction with the brush hereinabove desion of a handle construction and connection scribed.

which may be detached so as to be re-usable with The handle of the present invention consists of new cleaning implements as others with which a plurality of main parts or sections which are 15 the device is used become worn and useless. articulated. The handle sections consist of an A further object of the invention is to provide outer section I2, an intermediate section I3 and a handle construction to enable the use of a an inner or root section I4. The outer handle cleaning implement in the home and elsewhere section I2 in the present instance consists of a for carrying out cleaning operations on floors, portion I5 made of wood and a metal portion 56. 20 Stairways, under furniture, and other places hard The wooden portion I5 is hollowed out for a porto reach, and for cleaning ceilings and walls. tion of its length and the outer extremity is de- With the foregoing and other objects in view signed to provide a hand grip IT. The portion the invention resides in the combinations, con- I6 of the section I2 is developed from a single structions and functions of the parts illustrated piece of metal to provide a loop or a longitudinal- 25 in the accompanying drawings, described in the ly slotted end I8, with a notch I9 therein, a following specification, and defined in the aplip catch member 20 on one side, and hook catch pended claims. member 2| on the opposite side. Said portion In the drawings: I6 is rigidly secured to the wooden portion I5 Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a cleaning imin any suitable manner. The intermediate han- 30 plement in the form of a brush selected to illusdle section I3 is made of metal and is of chantrate the handle construction and connection of nel formation to provide longitudinal flanges 22. the present invention applied thereto, the handle A pivot 23 is mounted in the flanges 22 at one end being folded so as to be relatively short. of the section I3 for disposal in bridging relation Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with the parts thereto. The slotted end I8 of the handle section 35 of the handle and connection disposed as shown I2 is mounted on the pivot 23 which extends thru in Fig. 1. said end, the latter overlapping the adjacent end Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. of the section I3. In this manner the handle sec- Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the handle tion I2 is articulated or pivotally connected with partly unfolded to provide the brush with a hanthe section I3 and is also permitted to have a 40 die longer than that shown in Fig. 1 so as to adapt limited amount of sliding or longitudinal movethe brush for cleaning under furniture and other ment with respect to said section I3, for a purplaces hard to reach. pose to appear hereinafter. By overlapping the- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section with disposition adjacent end portions of the sections I2 and I3,

15 of the parts as shown in Fig. 4. the former has a limited amount of pivotal move- Fig. 6 is a plan view with the parts disposed as ment with respect to the section I3 so that both shown in Figs. 4 and 5. sections may be maintained longitudinally Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the handle straight with respect to each other. A contracfully unfolded to give it a maximum length for tile coil spring 24 has one end thereof connected in carrying out cleaning and dusting operations on with the section I2 as at 25 and its opposite end floors, ceilings and walls. is connected with one end of a link 2t whose Fig. 8 is an end view partly in section showing opposite end is pivotally connected with the pivot certain parts disposed as in Fig. '7. 23, as at 21. The spring 24 constitutes resilient Figure 9 is a perspective view of the brush and means having a normal tendency to constantly {5; illustrates the manner in which the top of the urge the section I2 endwise toward the section I3 and for retaining the catch member 2| in engagement with the adjacent end portion of the section I3, to retain the sections I2 and I3 in the longitudinally straight relationship. The section I3 has an opening 28 therein toallow the catch member 20 to project therethru when the handle section I2 is folded against the section I3, for .a purpose to appear hereinafter. The root section 44 is of channel formation and is articulated with the inner end of the intermediate section I3 for pivotal or swinging movement with respect thereto by means of a pivot 29 mounted in the flanges 3|] of the section I4 and the flanges 22 of the section I3. The adjacent ends of the sections I3 and I4 overlap each other to provide a stop in order to limit the pivotal movement of these sections with respect to each other to a substantially longitudinally straight line relationship as clearly shown in Figure '7.

In order to connect the handle constructed as hereinabove described with the back Ill for movement to different positions of adjustment with respect thereto while the handle is folded to decrease its length or unfolded to increase its length, there is provided means presently described. A metal plate 3| is fixed to the upper surface of the back H! at one end thereof in any suitable manner, such as by the screws 32. The root section E4 of the handle is hingedly or pivotally connected as at 33 with the inner end of the plate 3|. Use is made of a prop 34. This prop in the present instance is constructed from a single piece of cross-sectionally round stock or stout wire bent upon itself into a substantially U-shape to provide a pivot 35 on one end and axially aligned terminals 36 constituting pivot means on the other end of the prop. The pivot 35 is received in apertured lugs 31 upstuck from the material of the handle section I3, and the terminals 36 are received respectively in apertured lugs 38 formed integral with the plate 3| at the outer end thereof. The pivotal connection of the prop 34 with the handle section I3 is outwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the sections I3 and M. A contractile coil spring 39 has one end thereof connected with the handle section l3 by a. lug 4'3 integral with the section I3 and the opposite end of the spring is connected with the back Ill by means of a hook 4| secured to the back It. The outer end of the plate 3! projects beyond the back Ill to provide a catch 42 for a purpose to appear. At the other end of the back l0 there is secured a metal strip 33 by means of a screw or the like 44. The opposite ends of the strip 43 are offset upwardly to provide catch members 45 and 43, respectively, for a purpose to be explained. The back it! is recessed beneath the catch members 45 and 46, a at 41 and 4'3, to enable engagement of the catch members 45 and 46 in a manner and for a purpose to be explained, the recesses being clearly shown in Figure 9, which likewise illustrates that the back is also recessed as at 49 and 53 to accommodate the flanges 30 and the hinge 33 respectively of the root section M. The handle section I2 has a catch member 48 secured thereto for engagement with the projection 42.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the handle sections I2, I3 and I4 may be folded in order to decrease the length of the handle. \Vhen the handle sections l2, I3 and M are folded, the root section M will lie against the plate 3|, the intermediate section l3 will lie partly on the section I4 and on the back III], while the outer section I2 will overlie the sections l3 and I4, and it will be obvious from Figures 1 and 2 that the sections are shaped and of a width for nested relation with each other and with the back when in folded position. The intermediate section I3 is of such length as to reach from its pivotal connection with the section I4 to the end of the back In having the element 43. The handle section I2 is of such length as to extend from the end of the back I0 having the element 43 to a point beyond the opposite end of the back I0, so that the hand grip I! will be conveniently disposed as shown in Fig. 1. Due to the hollow construction or channel formation of the handle sections the springs 24 and 39 together with the prop 34 will be nested within the sections. By imparting longitudinal movement of the handle section |2 by virtue of the slotted end I8, the catch members 20 and 48, respectively, of the handle section l2 may be engaged with the catch members 46 and 42, respectively, subject to the action of the spring 24, to releasably retain the handle in folded condition, thereby providing a relatively short handle for the brush. The brush with the handle folded as indicated presents a cleaning implement which may be used for carrying out cleaning operations in places easily reached.

The handle section l2 may be readily disengaged by imparting longitudinal movement thereto subject to the tension of the spring 24, to disengage the catch members 20 and 48 from the catch members 46 and 42, respectively. By pulling outwardly on the handle section l2 against the action of the spring 24, the section 2 may be swung on the pivot 23 with respect to the handle section l3 so that these sections will be in longitudinal alignment. The catch member 2| on the handle section l2 may then be engaged with the catch member 45 on the back ID by exerting an outward pull on the handle section I2 against the action of the spring 24'. The spring 24 reacts to releasably retain the catch members 2| and 45 engaged, thereby holding the partly folded handle of somewhat greater length in fixed relation to the back, as shown in Fig. 4. The brush is then adapted for conveniently cleaning in places diflicult to reach, such for instance a places beneath furniture and other articles, to remove dust and dirt from beneath the same.

With the disposition of the parts as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, by exerting an outward pull on the handle section l2 the catch member 2| may be disengaged from the catch member 45, whereupon the handle sections |2 and I3 in unison may be swung on the pivotal connection between the section I3 and section |4. By virtue of the pivotal movement of the section M with respect to the plate 3|, all three sections of the handle may be brought into substantially straight line relationship to provide a handle of maximum length inclined with relation to the back II) as illustrated in Fig. '7. The prop 34 limits the pivotal movement of the several sections in unison so that they will be disposed in the inclined position mentioned. The spring 39 cooperates with the prop 34' to releasably retain the handle in this unfolded condition extended to a maximum length. The handle thus unfolded adapts the brush for carrying out cleaning operations on floors, ceilings and walls.

From the foregoing it will be clear that there is described a handle construction and connec tion by means of which the objects of the invention may be readily attained. It is understood that the sizes. of the parts may be varied, and that minor details of construction may be modified and re-arranged according to the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. The combination with a cleaning implement having a rigid back, of a handle consisting of articulated sections foldable upon each other to reduce the length of the handle and unfoldable to increase its length, means connecting the root section of said handle with said back for pivotal movement with respect thereto, said root section and an adjoining section being disposed in overlapped relation to provide a stop to limit the movement thereof relative to each other, a prop member, means connecting one end of the said member with said back for pivotal movement with respect thereto, means connecting the other end of said member with a handle section beyond the root section thereof, said prop member limiting the pivotal movement of the handle in one direction with respect to said back to dispose the handle in an inclined position, and spring means connected with said handle beyond said root section and with said back and cooperating with the stop and prop member to retain the handle in the inclined position.

2. A foldable handle for a cleaning implement including two sections, a pivot carried by one of said sections and extending transversely thereof, the other section having one end thereof slidably engaged with said pivot so that said second section may have pivoting and sliding movement with respect to said first section, a contractile spring having its opposite ends connected with said pivot and second section, and a catch member on said second section engageable with the first section for holding the sections extended in substantially straight line relation, said spring serving to retain said catch member in engaged position for the stated purpose, and permitting said catch member to be disengaged, subject to the sliding movement of said second section, whereby the latter may be folded over the first section and means for connecting the first mentioned section to the implement.

3. The combination of a plate adapted to be fixed to the back of an implement, a handle foldable to decrease the length thereof and unfoldable to increase the length thereof, a connection between said plate and the root end of the handle whereby the handle may be moved into different positions of adjustment with respect to said plate, a catch member fixed on said back, and cooperative means on said plate and the handle cooperating in conjunction with said catch member to retain the handle in folded condition with respect to said plate.

4. The combination with a cleaning element having a rigid elongated back, of a handle consisting of pivotally connected sections foldable to decrease the length of the handle and unfoldable to increase its length, means included in one of said pivotal connections to permit longitudinal movement of one of said handle sections, a contractile spring having its opposite ends connected with said longitudinally movable handle section and an adjoining handle section respectively, catch members afiixed on the opposite ends of said back respectively, a pivotal connection between the root end of the handle and said back, and spaced catch members on said longitudinally movable handle section and engageable with said first mentioned catch members respectively, subject to the action of said spring, whereby said handle may be retained in folded and unfolded relation with respect to said back. i

5. The combination with a cleaning implement having a rigid back, of a plate fixed to the back, a handle foldable to decrease its length and unfoldable to increase its length, a connection between said plate and handle whereby the latter may be moved into different adjusted positions with respect to said back, catch members on said plate and back respectively, and means on said handle andcooperating with said catch members to retain the handle folded with respect to said plate and back.

6. The combination with a cleaning implement having a rigid back, of a, foldable sectional handle including a root section having one end pivotally connected to the back and its other end to an adjoining handle section, said root section and adjoining section being disposed in end to end overlapped association to provide a stop to limit the pivotal movement thereof in a longitudinal aligned position, a substantially U-shaped member of a length greater than that of the root section and having its ends pivotally secured to the adjoining section and the back respectively to provide a prop for the handle, a spring between the adjoining section and the back and cooperating with the prop and stop for holding said sections in aligned position and at an angle to the back, a hand gripping section pivotally secured to the adjoining section, releasable means for holding the hand gripping section aligned with the adjoining section, all of said sections being movable on their pivots to folded position for disposal substantially parallel to the back, and co-acting means on the back and the handle gripping section respectively for detachably securing all of the sections in folded position to said back.

'7. The combination with a cleaning implement having a rigid back, of a foldable handle section including a root section having one end pivotally connected to the back and its other end to an adjoining handle section, said root section and adjoining section being disposed in end to end overlapped association to provide a stop to limit the pivotal movement thereof in a longitudinal aligned position, a prop of a length greater than that of the root section and pivotally secured to the adjoining section and back respectively, a spring between the adjoining section and the back and cooperating with the prop and stop for holding said sections in said aligned position and at an angle to the back, a hand gripping section pivotally secured to the adjoining section, releasable means for holding the hand gripping section aligned with the adjoining section, all of said sections being movable on their pivots to folded position for disposal substantially parallel to the back, co-acting means on the back and the hand gripping section for detachably securing all of the sections in folded position to the back, all of said sections being shaped for disposal one upon the other for nested relation with each other when in folded position, and the back being recessed to receive the sections therein with the hand gripping section extending from one end of the back.

8. The combination with a cleaning implement having a rigid back, of a foldable sectional handle including a root section having one end pivotally connected to the back, an intermediate section pivotally connected to the opposite end of the root section and disposed in end to end overlapped association therewith to provide a stop to limit the pivotal movement thereof in longitudinal alignment with the root section, a prop of a length greater than that of the root section and pivotally secured to the intermediate section and the back respectively, a spring between the intermediate section and the back and cooperating with the prop and stop for holding the sections in said aligned position and at an angle to the back, an end section including a hand gripping portion and pivotally connected to the intermediate section for disposal in alignment therewith, said sections being movable on their pivots to folded position one upon the other for disposal substantially parallel to the back, means for detachably securing the sections in folded position to said back, and means'for holding said end section aligned with the intermediate section in the angular position of the root and intermediate section and when the latter sections are secured to the back.

9. The combination with a cleaning implement having a rigid back, of a foldable sectional handle including a root section having one end pivotally connected to the back, an intermediate section pivotally connected to the opposite end of the root section and disposed in end to end overlapped association therewith to provide a stop to limit the pivotal movement thereof in longitudinal alignment with the root section, a prop of a length greater than that of the root section and pivotally secured to the intermediate section and the back respectively, a spring between the intermediate section and the back and cooperating with the prop and stop for holding the sections in said aligned position and at an angle to the back, an end section including a hand gripping portion and pivotally and slidably connected to the intermediate section for disposal in aligning releasable upon slidable movement of the end Q5 section against the action of the spring means. NIILO KATAJA. 

